Friday, October 31, 2008

"Anthony Garcia's writing is superb with great story-telling and excellent dialogue that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The story is equally matched by Reno Maniquis' stunning artwork that not only is a delight to look at but also is top notch in its visual presentation of the story. This is a good, nope, scratch that, great read, folks. It's fun, fast paced, tightly written and everything else you could hope for in a comic."

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Sunday, October 12, 2008

FOR THOSE WHO CAME IN LATE...

I really, really like the Phantom. I think he's the most durable character in comics, right? He pre-dated Batman and even Superman. Plus, he still has new comic strips going. Tarzan and Flash Gordon only come out in reprints nowadays. He's matched in that aspect only by Prince Valiant, but then again Prince Valiant only comes out in Sunday strips, while the Phantom has Sunday strips and daily strips, all drawn by the wonderful Paul Ryan.

My first Phantom comic book was a reprint from Alemar's bookstore some years back. I wasn't impressed by it then, since the art was not really spectacular (this being the Gold Key or Dell productions, I think). I would see him in the newspapers, but still didn't follow his adventures much, since I don't read the newspaper everyday when I was a kid. All that changed when I started buying the Phantom comic from DC Comics during the 80s. Mark Verheiden's stories really impressed me, As did Luke McDonnell's art (who I didn't like during his JLA tenure, but he was a perfect fit for the Phantom). From that moment on, I was hooked. I was looking for any Phantom comic I could find. I discovered and tracked down the late, great Don Newton Charlton drawn books. I started clipping out the strips drawn by Sy Barry. I even watched the not-so-spectacular movie starring Billy Zane (and bought the DVD).

I guess what I'm trying to do here is actively lobby for an opportunity to draw the Phantom. So if in the most unlikely chance that any of the Phantom's publishers come across this blog, I am ready, willing and able to draw the Phantom for you. Moonstone Books, Egmont, Frew Publications, even King Features Syndicate (on the slight chance that Paul Ryan leaves the strip)... I BEG you to give me a chance. Oh, and Dynamite Entertainment... I hear you're coming up with your own Phantom title. If you don't have an artist yet, I'm your man!

Hey, Billy Zane lobbied for the role, and he got it, right? So maybe it'll work for me, too.

Oh, the pencils above were' done by me. I'll ink it and post the finished art here sometime in the future.